Bengaluru: The Karnataka government’s decision to release a ₹10-crore grant for families affected by last year’s landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district has triggered a political storm. The Opposition BJP has accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of diverting taxpayers’ money to benefit Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s constituency, while the ruling Congress has defended the move as a humanitarian gesture.
BJP questions intent behind allocation
BJP leaders criticised the Siddaramaiah government for allegedly prioritising politics over state needs. State BJP chief BY Vijayendra took to X (formerly Twitter), pointing out that Siddaramaiah himself had coined the slogan “My tax, my right” when in the Opposition, demanding that Karnataka’s funds remain within the state.
“Yet today, you divert ₹10 crore of Kannadigas’ tax money to Wayanad in Kerala, just because it’s Priyanka Gandhi’s constituency,” Vijayendra alleged, accusing the CM of “servitude” to the Congress high command.
Senior BJP leader CP Patil also highlighted discrepancies in relief amounts. “In Karnataka, elephant trainers get only ₹5 lakh compensation, while in Wayanad it is ₹15 lakh. ₹10 crore for 100 families means ₹10 lakh per family — a figure seen only in rare ex gratia cases,” he said.
Congress defends grant as humanitarian aid
The Congress has strongly defended the allocation, stressing that inter-state assistance is common during natural calamities. Karnataka’s industries minister MB Patil said, “India is a large country. Whenever something happens in Nepal or other places, we give funds. Whether it is Maharashtra or any other state, we provide grants during floods and other disasters. States also give funds to other states. There is nothing wrong in that.”
He added that the grant was a gesture of solidarity towards victims of the Meppadi landslide in July 2024, which caused widespread loss of life and property in Wayanad.
Context of the controversy
The BJP has accused the Congress government of ignoring Karnataka’s own pressing issues, including farmer distress, poor infrastructure in schools and colleges, and inadequate development grants for MLAs.
Vijayendra said, “When our farmers reel under crop loss, when MLAs don’t even get basic grants to lay foundation stones, when schools and colleges lack infrastructure — you claim there is no money. But to please your high command, you generously gift crores outside Karnataka.”
Conclusion
The ₹10-crore relief grant has opened up a fresh political confrontation in Karnataka, with the BJP framing it as a case of misplaced priorities and the Congress portraying it as a humanitarian responsibility. With both sides refusing to budge, the debate over whether the allocation was compassion or political favouritism is likely to continue in the coming days.